USGS hydrologists use thermal infrared (IR) imagery to evaluate the distribution of warm and hot springs near the Yampa River. Numerous diffuse springs discharge near the river, and IR imagery is useful as a screening tool to pinpoint points of discharge to be sampled for water quality.
Data supporting management of thermal springs –Steamboat Springs, Colorado
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By Colorado Water Science Center
August 19, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the city of Steamboat Springs and the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is undertaking a geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical study to better understand the sources of water to hot springs and the possible effects of land use change and human activities on the chemistry and sustainability of springs.
The city of Steamboat Springs is in Routt County, north-central Colorado. The area immediately surrounding Steamboat Springs is dominated by forested land cover even although the county has experienced an 87 percent population increase from 1990 to 2020, resulting in the expansion of developed areas around the city. The most prominent land change in the past 20 years in the immediate vicinity of Steamboat Springs has been urbanization. Increasing population, urbanization, aging infrastructure, and changing land use have created the need for local water and land management agencies to obtain a more detailed understanding of the groundwater and surface-water resources in the area, including how these resources are connected to the numerous hot springs in the vicinity of the Yampa River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the city of Steamboat Springs and the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is undertaking a geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical study to better understand the sources of water to hot springs and the possible effects of land use change and human activities on the chemistry and sustainability of springs. The study will complete the first ever detailed survey of hot springs locations within and nearby the city of Steamboat Springs as related to different rock types and the Yampa River. Additionally, continuous datasets of hot spring water flow, specific conductance (an indicator of salinity), and temperature are being collected to understand temporal variability of water properties in the springs. Lastly, hot springs will be sampled for a wide range of geochemical indicators including nutrients, stable isotopes, and groundwater age indicators. These geochemical datasets will improve the understanding of subsurface flowpaths of hot spring water, as well as the residence time of water in the geothermal system. Taken together, these datasets will provide local agencies with information that may be used to guide infrastructure, land, and water management decisions.
Related Station Data:
- USGS 402918106505401 LITHIA SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402918106502701 NARCISSUS SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402918106502700 STEAMBOAT SPRING
- USGS 402919106503001 BLACK SULFUR SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402922106503001 SULFUR SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402925106503001 LAKE SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402923106502201 IRON SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
Hydrology of an Artesian Aquifer near Manitou Springs, Colorado
The area surrounding Manitou Springs, Colorado is host to numerous bedrock springs, which help to support the local economy through tourist visitation. Although many springs previously flowed directly to the surface, most of the “springs” in the area are now more strictly classified as flowing artesian wells completed in the Manitou Formation, a cavernous intermixed limestone and dolomite, which...
Infrared image of Narcissus Spring Outflow
USGS hydrologists use thermal infrared (IR) imagery to evaluate the distribution of warm and hot springs near the Yampa River. Numerous diffuse springs discharge near the river, and IR imagery is useful as a screening tool to pinpoint points of discharge to be sampled for water quality.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the city of Steamboat Springs and the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is undertaking a geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical study to better understand the sources of water to hot springs and the possible effects of land use change and human activities on the chemistry and sustainability of springs.
The city of Steamboat Springs is in Routt County, north-central Colorado. The area immediately surrounding Steamboat Springs is dominated by forested land cover even although the county has experienced an 87 percent population increase from 1990 to 2020, resulting in the expansion of developed areas around the city. The most prominent land change in the past 20 years in the immediate vicinity of Steamboat Springs has been urbanization. Increasing population, urbanization, aging infrastructure, and changing land use have created the need for local water and land management agencies to obtain a more detailed understanding of the groundwater and surface-water resources in the area, including how these resources are connected to the numerous hot springs in the vicinity of the Yampa River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the city of Steamboat Springs and the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is undertaking a geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical study to better understand the sources of water to hot springs and the possible effects of land use change and human activities on the chemistry and sustainability of springs. The study will complete the first ever detailed survey of hot springs locations within and nearby the city of Steamboat Springs as related to different rock types and the Yampa River. Additionally, continuous datasets of hot spring water flow, specific conductance (an indicator of salinity), and temperature are being collected to understand temporal variability of water properties in the springs. Lastly, hot springs will be sampled for a wide range of geochemical indicators including nutrients, stable isotopes, and groundwater age indicators. These geochemical datasets will improve the understanding of subsurface flowpaths of hot spring water, as well as the residence time of water in the geothermal system. Taken together, these datasets will provide local agencies with information that may be used to guide infrastructure, land, and water management decisions.
Related Station Data:
- USGS 402918106505401 LITHIA SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402918106502701 NARCISSUS SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402918106502700 STEAMBOAT SPRING
- USGS 402919106503001 BLACK SULFUR SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402922106503001 SULFUR SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402925106503001 LAKE SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
- USGS 402923106502201 IRON SPRING AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
Hydrology of an Artesian Aquifer near Manitou Springs, Colorado
The area surrounding Manitou Springs, Colorado is host to numerous bedrock springs, which help to support the local economy through tourist visitation. Although many springs previously flowed directly to the surface, most of the “springs” in the area are now more strictly classified as flowing artesian wells completed in the Manitou Formation, a cavernous intermixed limestone and dolomite, which...
Infrared image of Narcissus Spring Outflow
USGS hydrologists use thermal infrared (IR) imagery to evaluate the distribution of warm and hot springs near the Yampa River. Numerous diffuse springs discharge near the river, and IR imagery is useful as a screening tool to pinpoint points of discharge to be sampled for water quality.
USGS hydrologists use thermal infrared (IR) imagery to evaluate the distribution of warm and hot springs near the Yampa River. Numerous diffuse springs discharge near the river, and IR imagery is useful as a screening tool to pinpoint points of discharge to be sampled for water quality.